"How is 2000 BA Minor League Player of the Year Jon Rauch progressing in his comeback from surgery? Will he be ready for 2002 spring training, and does the year off change your opinion of him as a top prospect?

Bill Hamilton
Jacksonville

Whenever there's an injury question, the best place to turn is BA injury guru Josh Boyd. So that's what I did. Josh reports that Rauch is doing fine after having arthroscopic shoulder surgery in May. He should be 100 percent by spring training next year.

With all the medical advances made in recent years and the numerous examples of guys coming back better than ever from more major operations, I'm confident that Rauch will regain his previous form. It may take some time, but I'm still very high on him. "